Download Frequently Asked Questions for Sport Fishing

COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
AND INSTITUTE
Princess Margaret Drive, P.O. Box 1884, Belize City, Belize, Central America
Tel: 501-223-5739/0719 – Fax: 501-223-5738 – E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.coastalzonebelize.org
Frequently Asked Questions for Sport Fishing
1. What is considered Sport Fishing?
Sport fishing means fishing for the purpose of leisure or competition only, and
not for the commercial purpose of selling, exporting or otherwise.
Sport fishing will be needed by two main groups of fishermen: All visitors (nonBelizeans, non- permanent residents) and sport fishermen (Belizean
or
otherwise) who are looking to target the main sport fish species as listed in the
Fisheries legislation (S.I. 114 of 2009).
2. Who all may be exempted from having a Sport Fishing license?
Exemptions may be given to the following individuals:
 Children under the age of 16.
 Elderly persons over the age of 65 who are Belizeans or in possession of a
Belizean Passport.
 Tour guides in Belize who possess a valid tour guide license.
 Passengers on-board a vessel while sport fishing is occurring and is not partaking
in sport fishing will not require a license.
3. How do I get a Sport Fishing license?
 Monthly and daily licenses can be purchased via our online system
http://www.coastalzonebelize.org/.

Yearly, monthly and daily licenses can be purchased from the CZMAI office on
Princess Margaret Drive.
4. What is the cost of a Sport Fishing License?
Licenses are sold based on how long you want it for. The fee structure is as
follows:
FISHING PERIOD
FEES IN BELIZE DOLLARS
One (1) Day
$20.00
One (1) Week
$50.00
One (1) Year
$100.00
*ONLY BELIZEANS AND FOREIGN RESIDENTS CAN OBTAIN A YEARLY SPORT
FISHING LICENSE.
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
AND INSTITUTE
Princess Margaret Drive, P.O. Box 1884, Belize City, Belize, Central America
Tel: 501-223-5739/0719 – Fax: 501-223-5738 – E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.coastalzonebelize.org
5. How much time in advance should the Sport Fishing license be purchased? If a tourist
decide last minute that they want to go fishing, will he/she be able to go?
You do not need to purchase the license in advance, though this is better. If a
client decides last minute that they want to go sport fishing, they can go because
the license can be purchased online at the website. After filling out the
information, a pdf copy of the license will be emailed to the entered address
immediately after.
6. If I am fishing for a fish that is not on the list outlined as Sport Fish, do I need a
license?
Once you are fishing and do not have a commercial fishing license and it is not
subsistence fishing, we recommend that you have a Sport Fishing license.
7. Are all the fish on the list of Sport Fish in the Fisheries legislation protected?
 The list of fish outlined in the Fisheries legislation is only a list of commonly
targeted sport fish and is not a comprehensive list. There are other fish species
that are not on the list that are also considered sport fish.
 Only three species on that list are protected namely the Tarpon (Megalops
atlanticus), Permit (Trachinotus falcatus), and the Bonefish (Albula vulpes).
 These three species are for ‘catch and release’ purposes only. The other species
on the list can be kept after catching.
8. What does ‘catch and release’ mean?
Catch and release fishing means that once any of the protected fish species is
caught, it must be released back into the water where it was caught utilizing the
‘Best Practices’ guide for responsible angling.
9. Can a Sport Fishing license from the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) be used to go
fishing in marine reserves in Belize?
The sport fishing license from CZM cannot be used within any of the marine
reserves. A different license is needed, which can be purchased from the
Fisheries Department.
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
AND INSTITUTE
Princess Margaret Drive, P.O. Box 1884, Belize City, Belize, Central America
Tel: 501-223-5739/0719 – Fax: 501-223-5738 – E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.coastalzonebelize.org
10. Can reef fishing, fishing from docks, fishing from shore and fishing from the flats be
considered as sport fishing?
Yes, these are still considered sport fishing. According to Statutory Instrument
no. 114 of 2009, as long as any of the mentioned fish in the document are
targeted, you are partaking in some form of sport fishing, and therefore fishing
from these locations is still considered sport fishing.
11. What if I do not plan on going Sport Fishing but end up catching one of the fishes on
the list? How should I deal with this situation?
Under the Statutory Instrument no 115 of 2009, it will be considered illegal to
have any of these species in your possession (even if it is not one of the
protected species) if you do not own a sport fishing license; therefore, if you do
catch any of these species while simply fishing, the species should be released.
12. Does a person need a sport fishing license if they partake in Do It Yourself (DIY)
Fishing?
Yes, a license is still needed to partake in DIY fishing whether it is from the dock,
shore, a kayak or any other means.
13. If I am fishing in the river, do I still need a Sport Fishing license?
Sport fishing in fresh water is still sport fishing under the definition given above.
It is the act of fishing for ‘leisure’ and thus includes ‘leisure’ fishing in both
freshwater and marine habitats.
If you have any other questions regarding the Sport Fishing legislation, please feel free to
contact us here at the CZMAI office.